A few months ago I made a first visit to the RSPB reserve at Rye Meads in Hertfordshire ( https://petesfavouritethings.blog/2022/05/05/a-trip-to-the-lea-valley/ ) for some years and this week I decided as it had been so enjoyable to make a return trip.
Starting off at Draper hide overlooking the scrape, there were Common Tern, 2 Little Ringed Plover and a distant Green Sandpiper along with the Black-headed Gulls and Lapwing.
My next stop was the hides overlooking the large lakes. Here the Black-headed Gulls and Common Terns were nesting and there were a large number of Gadwall present
Onto the Kingfisher hide, where the Kingfisher was very obliging in coming in and perching on the perches before fishing in front of the hide and then perching with it’s catch in it’s beak before taking it into the hole.
Unlike the last time I visited the reed beds and trees were silent, with only the occasional song of a Chiffchaff or a Blackcap. but there were some good butterflies and dragonflies to see along the paths including both Norfolk (no longer confined to that county) and Brown Hawkers and a Small Copper Butterfly together with some basking Red Admirals.
On my way back to the visitor centre I dropped back into Draper Hide and now there were 3 Green Sandpipers and I was delighted to see one of the second pair of Kingfishers on the reserve fishing on the pool before returning to its hole in a bank alongside the scrape.
Also some interesting different types of Spider webs including one with an occupant.
An interesting day and I plan to visit again in the late autumn /early winter once the winter visitors have arrived.
Pete's Favourite Things 